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Quarterly Report - First Quarter - 2005

TO: Kenneth D. Krombeen, City Manager
FROM: Vernon L. Snyder, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Quarterly Report – First Quarter
DATE: May 31, 2005

Listed below is a review of some police activities for the first quarter of 2005; the months of January, February and March.

Complaints Investigated

Performance Report

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY:

Once again, most criminal offenses remained relatively flat.  Burglaries were up for the quarter to 30 from 17 for the same quarter last year.  Eight of those reported were home invasions that were occurring during the daytime.  During the same period of time, the City of Wyoming was experiencing a similar problem.  Wyoming Police were able to arrest a suspect shortly after they received a report of a resident surprising a suspect in their home.  Although that suspect was not linked to any of the recent home invasions in Grandville, he admitted involvement in several that occurred last summer.  Information was developed during the quarter that gave investigators some direction for the follow-up investigation into the recent home invasions.  Investigators are hopeful that one or more arrests will be made during the next quarter for some of those home invasions.  

Some classes of offenses, such as sexual assault, malicious destruction of property, and assaults, were significantly lower during the quarter when compared to the same period last year.  

During the past two quarters, there was significant media coverage of heroin related activities, both in the City of Grandville as well as in other west Michigan communities.  Those included the deaths of Nora Rose Lares and Matthew Lloyd McKinney, both of whom died of heroin overdoses in Grandville.  On March 9, 2005, Grandville Police and Fire personnel responded to another report of a heroin overdose.  The twenty-two year old male victim in this most recent case suffered a respiratory arrest, but efforts to save him were successful.  Grandville Police personnel worked with investigators from the Grand Rapids office of the Drug Enforcement Administration on all of these incidents.  During the first quarter, the individuals that provided the heroin in both of the death cases pled guilty in United States District Court to delivering heroin that resulted in a death.  Both individuals are awaiting sentencing, and other individuals either have been charged or are awaiting charges for other involvement in these cases.  

The assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan was very much appreciated by the Grandville investigators.  This investigation has shown that the state laws pertaining to the delivery of illegal drugs do not adequately address situations where the delivery results in serious injury or death.  The state laws only enhance sentencing based upon the nature and amount of the illegal substance.  Michigan State Representative William VanRegenmorter was contacted and a request was made for him to sponsor legislation that specifically addresses these concerns.  He has sponsored similar legislation concerning drunk driving causing serious injury or death.  He researched the issue and found that a bill has already been proposed by another Representative that may address our concerns.  His office is forwarding a copy of that bill for our review.

TRAFFIC:  

Accidents were down for the first quarter at 271, the second lowest since at least 1999.  Traffic enforcement was up slightly in both the number of  violations issued and the number of traffic stops resulting in verbal warnings.  

COMMUNITY POLICING:  

As a result of the heroin related investigations, Grandville Police personnel participated in a number of events in the area.  Two town hall meetings were held to discuss ways for organizations to work together.  Agencies represented included law enforcement, prosecutors, and drug rehab and prevention employees.   

While attending the Crime Prevention Association of Michigan Conference during September of last year, Grandville Community Policing Officers learned of a drug testing system that can be offered to parents.  This project was brought to area police departments and school systems in February.  The program, Law Enforcement Against Drugs, allows parents to purchase drug testing kits for a nominal fee, that they can use with their children to verify that they are not using illegal substances, or to identify those that are so that they may get them professional help.  

During March, two more classes of Business Law students visited the Department for a half day of participation with the criminal justice system.  This is part of a Junior Achievement program.  The students observe court and probation activities and go on a ride along with officers while on patrol.  The class is always well received by the students.

Walmart, one of our business partners, presented the Grandville Police Department with another check to be used by the Community Policing Officers.  This check was used to purchase additional preliminary breath testing instruments for use by patrol officers.  Walmart and other local businesses support our community policing projects in a variety of ways.  

MISCELLANEOUS:  

Grandville Police Officers continued to complete necessary training provided by a Homeland Security Grant.  This training includes instruction on Incident Command, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE), and Terrorism Awareness for Emergency Responders (TAER).  The grant provides funding for all of the training, including expenses for both overtime and backfill for the classes.  While this training is specifically designed for responding to terrorism, the training also is applicable for other large emergencies such as weather or hazardous chemical spill incidents.  

Early this year, the Grandville Police Department joined other area departments in a data sharing project that will allow local police departments to view information on criminal offenses and suspects electronically.  Before this project, investigators had to check individually with all area departments to get needed information.  When the data sharing project is fully implemented, officers will be able to retrieve data and photos from all of the participating departments over the computers both in the building and in the police vehicles.                    

                                                                        Respectfully Submitted,

                                                                        Vernon L. Snyder, 

Chief of Police

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